Gum Boy

Be sure to watch the video before reading the following comments:



No, this is NOT why he has two cavities.
And according to the Mayo Clinic, Dr. Oz, and snopes.com, it won't be in his stomach for 7 years.

Two Cavities

Josephine took James and Jonah to the dentist today. James has two cavities. Coincidentally they are located right where he likes to hide his chewable vitamins. Maybe we shouldn't let him use vitamins like chewing tobacco anymore.

"James, it has been over a hour. Have you finished eating that vitamin yet?" "No."

No more vitamins for you!

Sour and Sweet

Last night was sweet. Everyone slept through the night. EVERYONE! We really needed that. So today we had a lazy morning, went to Wendy's and then to Wingate Park. This is the same park where Jonah would scream at the train and chase his shadow. (He did it again just for old-time's sake). After eating lunch in the car, we took all the boys to the play equipment. The boys had a great time with two girls also 6 and 3. Josephine struck up a conversation with their mom and it turns out her husband used to work for Aventis when Josephine did. Small world!

The weather was great (This is why we live in California!) and the boys got some needed exercise.

Josephine just put down Jedidiah (aka Mr. Sour) and as I type this I can smell the sourdough starter I just prepared. I think it's so cool that you can leave food out for two weeks and then use it to make great-tasting bread. Yum!

Another Late Night Party

Jedidiah was overtired last night. We started getting him ready to sleep at 8:30 and finally after hours of rocking and mini-naps, I gave up at 2:00 a.m. I didn't have the energy to walk him around anymore. So I put Baby Einstein on. He calmed down and I laid down on the couch. The video repeated until 5:00 a.m. when Josephine took over. Jed slept part of that time but not much.

Lesson: When daddy watches the twins during the day make sure they nap throughout the day or expect a long night.

Happy Valentine's Day Dr. Tukaj

As if spending Lincoln's birthday at the doctor's wasn't enough, James decided to send us back for Valentine's Day. Yesterday, Josephine met me at the door with the look that says "Help!" It was clear at that point that she was too sick to care for the boys. After finishing dinner she retired to bed. I took the day off today which allowed her to get some needed rest.

This morning James told us his ear hurt and his appetite was poor. Fortunately, we got an appt for 4 and James, Jonah and I headed back to Glendora where Dr. Tukaj confirmed that James had two ear infections and lots of phlegm in his lungs. So, now we have eight ear infections and one sick mom - Happy Valentine's Day!

P.S. It's 11:29 p.m. and Jedidiah shows no signs of going to sleep anytime soon.

Cheaper by the Half Dozen

On Monday we did what most Americans do to celebrate Lincoln's birthday - We took our four boys to visit a Polish pediatrician in Glendora. It turns out they had six ear infections. Jonah, Jedidiah and Jonah were infected in both ears. Now it makes sense Jed could not sleep - two bad ear infections, high fever, wheezing, dehydration, and fatigue - I would be grumpy too.

So off we went to CVS where they filled our trunk with a variety of pharmacological potions.

Josephine has been playing nurse ever since.

Happy Birthday Abe!

Grammy's After Party

At 8:00 last night we started watching the Grammy's. As you know these award shows are usually the beginning of a long night of celebration and partying for the celebrities.

At around 10:30 we put the last child down and started cleaning up from another exciting day. At about midnight, Josephine was in bed and I was preparing to turn in when Jedidiah decided to start his own after party.

For the next four hours Josephine and I took turns chaperoning our little "performer" around the house. He wasn't content to just scream, yell and throw up (like they do at most parties). Nor did he want to sit on the couch or lie on the floor. He had to be carried around the room. After throwing up a couple times, he finally kept down Tylenol for his 102.7 fever.

At 4:00 a.m. Josephine and I were exhausted and Jedidiah showed no signs of letting up. He was going to "party" to the break of dawn. Finally, out of sheer desperation we put him in a chair with Baby Einstein playing and he watched it for an hour or more before falling asleep.

Jedidiah woke up this morning but hasn't kept down any fluids or cereal. Apparently, he partied too hard last night. So hard that we'll have to wisk him away to the doctor's later today.

And the Grammy for the best "late night screaming when you should be asleep because mommy and daddy are exhausted" goes to....Jedidiah Riggs!

Josephine and I are honored to accept this Grammy on Jedidiah's behalf. We hope this is the last time he ever wins this award.

LOST

Yes, we are fans of the show "LOST". We borrowed a friend's DVD sets to catch up through season 3, and we watched the premier of season 4 last Thursday. So who is part of the Oceanic 6??!! Doesn't Charlie's haircut look much better in Hurley's visions? But that's not really why I'm writing again. We experienced another kind of "lost" this past weekend...

James, the little helper that he is, helped me unload the car from a Target run last Friday. He was in charge of putting away the ranch dressing and the two-pack of toothpaste. I found the ranch in the refrigerator, but the toothpaste was no where to be found. Yes, LOST. And we were already out of toothpaste. I asked James where he put the toothpaste, and for the past three days his response has been one of the following:
1) He would avoid eye contact, shrug his shoulders, and continue what he was doing.
2) He'd make a beeline to his room, waste about 5 minutes in there doing who knows what, and return with the reply of "I don't know, Mom."
3) He'd open and close the same drawer in the kitchen about 2 times, and check "underneath" the closest (and smallest) baby toy. Isn't it obvious that two boxes of toothpaste CAN'T be hidden by a rattle?

So, we'd resorted to using the kids' toothpaste, and may I say that the flavor of "Fruit Pursuit" leaves A LOT to be desired - I always chase it with a one minute swish of mouthwash so my teeth feel somewhat clean.

But today, what was LOST is now found. The toothpaste was, in fact, in the kitchen drawer that James had kept opening and closing, but it was under the box of Ziploc freezer bags. I won't even ask him WHY it was under the Ziplocs, let alone in the drawer. I'll just look forward to fresh breath and another new episode this Thursday night.